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First round live odds

On paper, a lightly watched fall event from Las Vegas without fans was the perfect spot to start incorporating sports betting into a PGA Tour event. While the early round execution was as laughably awkward—but befitting of the low budget Korn Ferry-style broadcast effort by Golf Channel—the real eye-opener came during Sunday’s CJ Cup final round.

Jason Kokrak had a one-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele as they arrived at the par-5 18th. And this wagering opportunity—where legal—came from BET MGM as they waited on the tee:

The announcers ran with the bet and instead of a rather traditional conversation about what needed to happen (Xander must make birdie…no kidding!), this side bet of who would win the hole became mildly interesting and fueled good pre-tee shot conversation.

And then Kokrak unleashed a doozy of a tee shot. The bettor or speculator who was all in on Schauffele making birdie to Kokrak’s conservative par? They lost quickly after this clutch (and huge) tee shot by Kokrak:

He’s back with the flatbellies at this week’s ZOZO Championship outside L.A— but Phil Mickelson is now 2 for 2 on the PGA Tour Champions after passing Mike Weir to win the Dominion Energy Classic.

He may make some odd course management decisions, but the flexibility and strength at 50 is so impressive and why he could be competitive a long time:

"If he gets this on the green, he's Superman."

🦸 pic.twitter.com/GAZo1QJNG8

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 17, 2020

His post-65 final round comments:

He's done it again! @PhilMickelson after second win. https://t.co/JPTFcJ2JxL

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 18, 2020

If you watched—and judging by the crickets on social media you didn’t—the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek produced a rewarding finish where a journeyman finally broke through after a mind-numbing 233 starts.

Jason Kokrak has contended so many times and finally broke through in the Asia Swing event moved to Las Vegas, holding off Xander Schauffele at Shadow Creek.

Kokrak’s first PGA Tour victory comes in his 233rd career start and as Ben Everill notes, the long-hitter won this on with the short stick. And maybe some local knowledge.

With just a little research we would have known Kokrak is part of at BetMGM-sponsored crew who often play Shadow Creek – one of the more exclusive courses in the U.S. While the majority of players in the field this week had never played the course or had less than a handful of rounds at the place, Kokrak guesses he’s been out here “north of 20 rounds.”

“I have played quite a few rounds here at Shadow Creek so I know the greens pretty well, I know the little intricacies of this place. Not like some of the local caddies, but it is definitely a place that I feel comfortable at,” he said.

And he played with that sort of familiarity, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Putting for the first time in his now 10-season career.

Kokrak “gained” 10.293 strokes on the field with his putting.

Jason Kokrak matched the best round of the CJ Cup with an 8-under 64 to overcome a three-shot deficit at the start and win a duel on the back nine with Xander Schauffele.

 

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Phil Mickelson became the fourth player and second this year to win his first two starts on the PGA Tour Champions, slamming the door on Mike Weir with a back-nine surge Sunday in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

Jason Day, who was 5 shots off the lead at the CJ Cup, withdrew from the event on the second hole of Sunday's final round after suffering a neck injury.

Spain's Adrian Otaegui produced a barnstorming closing round of nine-under-par 63 to claim a four-stroke victory at the Scottish Championship on Sunday.

Solid putting on the glass-like greens at Shadow Creek helped Russell Henley turn a four-shot deficit into a three-shot lead by the end of the day at the CJ Cup.

Mike Weir shot 68-63 on Saturday to reach 13 under and take a 3-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

Happy 160th birthday to The Open and that grand October 17th day at Prestwick when a small gathering played for the belt.

No author is listed, but what a perfect way to commemorate the beginning of it all (for pro golf at least) by highlighting what the world looked like then. And I’m sure all of the grateful pro golfers aound the world today uttered a thought or two of appreciation today for the pioneering work of the Morris’s and Park’s that has allowed them to stockpile Porsches and bloated annuities.

A few of my favorites from 1860, courtesy of The Open site:

- Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States of America, making him the first Republican to hold the office.

- In 1860, there were only 33 American states, as opposed to the 50 that exist now, while the population of the USA was approximately 31 million. Today, the US population is over ten times as great, at 330 million.

Defending Champions Adam Scott, Inbee Park and Matt Jones

For the first time since the final year of World War II, the men’s Australian Open golf tournament will not be staged. Due to COVID-19 related issues, Golf Australia has also announced the cancellation of the Australian PGA and Women’s Open, which were last cancelled in 1995 and 2006, respectively.

From Golf Australia’s announcement:

“But even with multiple contingency plans, it has reached a point where decisions have to be made and this, regrettably, is the one we’ve had to take.”

A raft of measures were considered – including players entering a hub and competing while serving a strict quarantine period, as well as restricting crowd numbers and movement – but all options were unviable.
“We look forward to bringing all three tournaments alive again when they return as normal for summer 2021-22,” Kirkman said.

The Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship – the feature events on the PGA Tour of Australasia – were originally slated for a late November and early December window, to be played at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath and Brisbane’s Royal Queensland, respectively.

It appears it's time to press pause on the ANGC No. 13 Tee discussion - at least for now 😉 ©12OCT2020 David Dobbins/EurekaEarth * #EurekaEarth #NotDrone #DiscoverThePresent * #themasters #aerialphoto #aerialphotography #augustaga #augustanational #golfstagram #instagolf #golf #golfer #loveaugusta #masters #masters2020 #mastersgolf #morningdrive #tigerwoods #pgatour #golfaugusta #whyilovethisgame #augustanational #angc #pga365 #golfporn #augustanational #topgolf #fallMasters #topgolfaugusta #beautifulgolfcourses

The service road is in, the trees are planted and room has been left for a new 13th tee at Augusta National. All that’s missing is that magical blue hue in Rae’s Creek!

As you can see from Eureka Earth’s latest shot, the land acquired from Augusta Country Club behind the current tee now includes a handsomely decorated service road with lights, landscaping and even a sound wall on the inside corner to shield a future 13th tee.

This is all my nice build-up to pointing out the obvious: it will be years before an extended 13th tee could look even remotely attractive.

Now, I know what you’re saying, extending the par-5 13th would be all about restoring the risk-reward nature. Who cares if the back drop is more Sage Valley than Augusta National. The answer? The Lords of Augusta care.

The Houston Open hosted by the Astros* Foundation will be the second PGA Tour stop to welcome back fans. Capped at 2000 a day, as ESPN.com’s Bob Harig reports here, masks will be required. So will financing.

The Tour and the Houston Open announced Friday that up to 2,000 tickets would be available per day at $79 for the opening round and $109 per day for the remaining three rounds, prices that include food options.

The tour has not allowed spectators at events since returning from a 13-week break due to the coronavirus pandemic in June. The PGA Championship and U.S. Open were played without spectators, and the Masters will also not permit them when it is played next month.

I note the price merely because a round of golf at Memorial, renovated by Tom Doak and Brooks Koepka for the Houston Open, charges $30 on weekdays and $38 on weekends for 18 holes. Now that’s a deal!

The PGA Tour and the Houston Open announced Friday that up to 2,000 tickets will be available per day, making it the first time since March fans will be able to attend a PGA Tour event in the U.S.

Xander Schauffele made seven birdies over eight holes and settled for an 8-under 64 on Friday for a three-shot lead at Shadow Creek.

Player Information / Pairings / Results

October 14, 2020

New season, but familiar results.

Jeff Burda, the 2020 NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year, shot a final round 1-under 70 Wednesday at Poppy Hills Golf Course to come from behind and win the annual NCGA Super Senior Championship. For the 67- year-old Burda, it’s his second Super Senior title in three years (2018). The victory also marked Burda’s record 11th career NCGA Senior title. Previously, he had been tied with Gary Vanier at 10 for the all-time lead.

Player Information / Pairings / Results

 

October 13, 2020

Big Sur Flight

Tadashi Kawano took the title, shooting a final round 1-over 72 at Poppy Hills to finish at 6-under 136. Kawano had opened with a net 64 on Monday. Second place went to Dave Jones in a card-off. Jones tied with Tom Clydesdale at 147.

Golden Gate Flight

Billy Witt shot a final round 2-under 69 to come in at 7-under 135 and win by a stroke over runner-up Eric Jarvis. Jarvis had a second round score of 69. Third place went to David Spinks at 142.

English golfer Matt Wallace carded a 5-under 67 at Fairmont St Andrews to join Adrian Otaegui in the Scottish Championship lead on Friday.